Art teacher fires up new class
Ceramics students to show and sell work by semester's end
By John Sadowski
Phoenix Staff Writer
Kilns are heating up this semester in room 169 of Whiting Hall, home of ceramics, Art 121, the newest Jackson Community College art class.
Two sections, with a total of 21 students, are working this semester on sculptural ceramics. Tom McMillen-Oakley, the instructor, said the students are building their pieces by hand, not by throwing them on the traditional potter's wheel.
Megan King is pleased.
"Absolutely. This class meets my expectations, 100 percent," said the 20-year-old student from Jackson. "I've always been interested in making things with my hands."
Ella Sharp Museum offers ceramics courses, but not for credit. There is no prerequisite.
"JCC is one of the few (colleges) in the area offering ceramics for credit," McMillen-Oakley said. Spring Arbor University is one. "We're also working on transferability," he said.
Students will show and sell their work at the end of the semester, along with students from a painting class, he said. Details of the show will be announced later.
The studio in Whiting "is a big improvement," said McMillen-Oakley. "This is a non-toxic studio, with a lot more room and options than room 207."
Room 207 in Walker Hall had been used for studio purposes.
One section of Art 121 will be offered in winter semester. There is a $150 materials fee in addition to regular tuition.